Alfa Romeo 147 - Alfa Romeo Cam Belt Failure | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Wed 9 Jun 2010 19:11

Alfa Romeo 147 - Alfa Romeo Cam Belt Failure - SamDCFC

Recently Broke down on the motorway, Called out the AA who said the cam belt had slipped some teeth, had the car taken to a Alfa Specialist who said that the big ends were badly worn and teeth had snapped off the crankshaft all this was down to driving with little or no oil, we weren't convinced so had the car taken to another garage who stripped the engine and rebuilt it, they have told us it is to do with the woodruff key being sheered which caused the cam belt to slip a couple of teeth.

We want to know what actually sheers the woodruff key, Would this cause the cam belt to slip and shouldn't it be checked on a cam belt change..

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Thu 10 Jun 2010 01:55

Alfa Romeo 147 - Alfa Romeo Cam Belt Failure - barkas

A lack of oil or very low oil level results in the oil not being able to lubricate the bearings furthest away from the oil pump in the engine block, the bearings furthest away from the pump are the camshaft and its bearings, the pump has to pump the oil against gravity to reach the cam bearings and any shortage results in camshaft siezure , this can result in the belt snapping.....the camshaft snapping...the valves contacting the pistons or the woodruff key shearing...all of these are a total disaster , and a FULL engine build is required as the crankshaft will also have suffered damage as will the pump and all the engine ancilliaries. Ive rebuilt engines all over the woorld in the oil exploration industry, and Ive found that its more cost efficient to replace a oil damaged engine than rebuild one. Good luck

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